Steam grain-drier



(Model.)

H. GUTLER.

STEAM GRAIN DRIBR.

No. 247,318. Patented Sept. 20,1881.

WITNBSSES INVENTOR @QM ,ee/WM ffw ATT'ORNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY OUTLER, OF NORTH WILBRAHAM, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF, GEORGE E. CUTLER, C. F. OUTLER, AND B. T. THOMPSON, OF SOUTH FRAMING- HAM, MASSACHUSETTS.

STEAM GRAIN-DRIER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of 'Letters Patent No. 247,318, dated September 20, 1881.

` Application filed May 27, 1881. (Model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY OUTLER, of North Wilbraham,in the county ot' Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain useful Improvements in Steam Grain- Driers, Yof which the following is a specitication.

Figure l is a sectional side elevation of my improvement. Fig. 2 is a sectional end ele- 1o vation of the same, taken through the linecvx, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the same, part being broken away. Fig. 4 is a side elevation ot' the same, part being broken away.

Similar letters of reference indicate correx 5 spending parts.

The object of this invention is to improve the construction of the steam grain-drier for which a patent was allowed to me December 13, 1880, in such a manner as to make it more 2o convenient in use and more ei'ective in operation.

The invention consists in constructing the Vend spider with curved arm and a conical iange to receive the grain, and holes to receive the steam-pipes; also, in the combination, with the casin g and the discharge-trough, of the jacket and its suspending-bands,whereby the grain will be prevented from escaping through the Ventilating-apertures when the 3o said apertures are turned to the lower part of the drier; also, in the combination, with the trough provided with an opening and the jacket, of the casing J, provided with the buckets over the discharge-openings of the 3 5 casing; also, in the combination, with the holv low head, the spiders, and steam-pipes, of the auxiliarysteam-pipes; also, in constructing the journal of the drier-shaft with a central passage,to admit steam, and side passages, to dis- 4o charge the water ot' condensation also, in the combination, with the drier-shaft having. side passages through its journal,.ot' the stationary sleeve having interior groove and thepipe to receive and carry oft' the discharge-water; also, in constructing the hollow headof the drier with lifting-buckets and outlet-pipes, which communicatewith the outside passages ofthe drier-shaft; and, also, in the combination, with the drier-shaft having side passages and the hollow head, of the outlet-pipes, the sta- 5o tionary grooved sleeve, and the pipes that receive and carry oft' the discharge-water, all as will be hereinafter fully described.

A is a shaft, placed in a slightlyinclined position and revolving in bearings in suitable supports.

To the shaft A, at a little distance from theD lower bearings, is attached ahead, B, which is made hollow to receive steam and distribute the steam to the pipes C. The forward ends 6o of the pipes C are screwed into the inner side of the head B, near its rim. The pipes G, at their other ends, pass through holes in the rim of a spider, D, the hub of which is attached to the shaft A. The outer or rear ends of the pipes G are connected in pairs by return-bends E, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, to induce a circulation of steam through the said pipes. The arms of the spider D are curved outward, as shown in Fig. l, and upon the rim ot` the said 7o spider, at or near its inner edge, is formed, or to it is attached, aconical lian ge, `F. The lian ge F and the concavity of the outer side of the spider D form a recess or space to receive the grain, which is introduced through a spout,vG, 7 5 from some convenient receptacle. The steamhead B, the pipes C, and the spiderD form a drying-cylinder, which can be made of. any desired length, as the amount ot' drying to be done may require. 8o

One, two, or more spiders,H, to support the pipes C, can .be placed upon the shaft A, between the head B and the spider D, as the length ofthe cylinder may require. The' pipes C can cross the rims of the spiders H 'and be 85 secured to the said rims in pairs by straps passing over the pairs of pipes, and having their ends secured to the said rimsy by screws or other suitable fastenings; or the pipes C can be passed through holes in the rims ptthe said 9o spiders H. An increase ot' heating-surface can be obtained from another set of pipes,I, placed around and at a little distancefronl the shaft .A, and the forward ends of which are screwed into theinner side of the steam-head B. The pipes I pass through holes in the middle parts or arms of the spiders H, and are connected in pairs at the outer side of the last spider H head, at a little distance from its rim.

by return-bends I', as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. The pipe-cylinder is inclosed by a casing of boards, J, which rest upon hoops K, placed around the pipes C. The ends of the casingboards J are placed beneath the flanges or lips L, formed upon the inner edges of the steamhead B and the end spider, l). The casingboards J are further secured in place by hoops M, placed around them, as shown in Fig. 1. Any desired number of inner hoops, K, and outer hoops, M, can be used, as the length of the drier may require. .A

In the casing J, near the lower end of the drier, are formed a number of slots or apertures, N, through which the moisture expelled from the grain can escape. The grain is kept from escaping through the apertures N when the revolution of the drier brings the said apertures downward by a semi-cylindrical jacket, O, which surrounds the lower part of the casing J, and is held against the said casing by bands P, passed over said casing and attached to the edges of the said jacket O. The jacket O is held stationary by being attached at its lower edge to the edge of the discharge-trough Q, which is supported by some suitable means beneath the lower part of the drier. The upper edges of the trough Q are concaved to t upon the lower side of the cylindrical casing J. In the bottom, side, or end of the trough Q is formed an aperture, R, through which the dried grain escapes to some suitable receiver.

To the casing-boards J, over the dischargeopenings in the said casing, are attached buckets S, opening to the rearward, which become filled with grain when the said discharge-openings are downward, and discharge their contents into the trough Q as the said dischargeapertures rise. With this construction, as the drier revolves the grain passes over and around the drying-pipes, gradually passes down in a spiral direction toward thelower end of the drier, and is discharged into the trough Q.

In the forward end ofthe shaft A is formed a longitudinalperforation, T, from which crossperforations U open into the interior of the head B, so that steam can be introduced into the said head without interfering with the rotation of the drier.

To the inner surface of the outer side of the head B are attached, or upon it are formed, plates or buckets V, to raise the water of condensation from the lower part of the interior of the said head and cause it to iiow out through the pipes W, the outer ends of which are secured in apertures in the outer side of the said The inner ends of the pipes W are connected with the inner ends of the passages X, which pass longitudinally through the outer part of the shaft A and open at their outer ends into the ring-groove in the inner surface of the sleeve Y, through which the shaft A passes, and

which is made to fit the said shaft A watertight by packing or stufng boxes.

To the sleeve Y is attached the end of the pipe Z, which opens into the rin g-groove of the said sleeve, and through which the water of condensation passes oi' to some suitable receiver. The pipe Z holds the sleeve Y stationary, while the shaft A revolves within the said sleeve.

The drier can be revolved by steam or other power applied to the shaft A by a belt and pulleys or other suitable means.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. In a steam grain-drier, the end spider, D, constructed, substantially as herein shown and described, with curved arms and a conical han ge to receive the grain and holes to receive the steam-pipes, as set forth.

2. In a steam grain-drier, the combination, with the casin g J and the discharge-trough Q, of the jacket O and the suspending-bands l?, substantially as herein shown and described, whereby the vcntilating-apertures in the lower part of the casing J are covered and the escape of grain through the said apertures is prevented, as set forth.

3. In a steam grain-drier, the combination, with the trough Q,providcd with the opening R and jacket O, ot' the casing J, provided with the buckets S over the discharge-openings of the said casing, as and for thepurpose set forth.

4. In a steam grain-drier, the combination, with the hollow head B, the spiders D H, and steam-pipes C C', of the auxiliary' steam-pipes I I', substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a steam grain-drier, thejournal ot' the shaftA, made with a central passage, T, to admit steam, and side passages, X, to discharge the Water of condensation, substantially as herein shown and described` 6. In a steam grain-drier, the combination, with the shaft A, having side passages, X, through its journal, of the stationary sleeve Y, having interior groove and the pipe Z, substantially as herein shown and described, to receive and carry off the discharge-water, as set forth.

V7. In a steam grain-drier, the hollow head B, provided with the lifting-buckets V and the outlet-pipes IV, which communicate with the outside passages, X, of the shaft A, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

8. In a steam grain-drier, the combination, with the shaft A, having side passages, X, and the hollow head B, of the 'pipes W, the stationary grooved sleeve Y, and the pipe Z, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

HENRY OUTLER.

Witnesses:

CHAs. L. HoUGHroN, SAML. E. BAKER.

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IOS

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